Machine for molding blocks or tablets of chocolate.



PATENTED APR. 14, 1903.

P. R. FRANKE. MACHINE FOR MOLDING BLOCKS OR TABLETS OP CHOCOLATE.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 11, 1902.

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PATENTED APR. 14, 1903.

P. R. FRANKE. MACHINE FOR MOLDING BLOCKS 0R TABLETS 0F CHOCOLATE.

APPLIOATI ON FILED FEB. 11, 1902.

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lV/T/V/E'SSES "a; vain co, mom LITH'I. mzmwsv UNITED Srn'rns PAUL ROBERT FRANKE, OF LEIPZIG-PLAGWITZ, GERMANY.

MACHINE FOR MOLDING BLOCKS OR TABLETS OF CHOCOLATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 725,237, dated April 14, 1903.

Application filed February 11, 1902. Serial No. 93,563. (No model.)

invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Hitherto chocolate has been made into blocks-that is to say, the stiff paste-like mass of chocolate has been uniformly distributed in the molds by means of a beating-table, which is rapidly and successively raised and lowered by the action of an eccentric or of a cam-disk, whereby the molds placed on the the table are continuously exposed to violent shaking, which effects the uniform distribution of the stifi mass of chocolate in the molds. As in this work the molds are constantly jumping about on the beating-table, the noise produced is so great that it is extremely difficult to find workmen to attend to these beating-tables, as it is impossible to remain for a length of time in proximity to such machines. Much time is also lost in carrying the molds or blocking-boards to and from the breaking-tables, as Well as by the interruptions thereby caused in the working of the beatingtables and to the staff employed in connection therewith. By the new machine this loss of time is avoided. Moreover, the adjustment of the stroke of the table, which at the beginning of the operation is greater than at the end thereof, is very troublesome and also involves a great loss of time. This loss of time is likewise obviated by the new machine, as

' the stroke adjusted fora particular sort of chocolate by means of a single handle remains fixed until another sort is dealt with.

The disadvantage attaching to the old beat ing-tables and mentioned above are got rid of by means of the machine that constitutes the presentinvention, the machine being constructed by combining two breaking-tables, the molds belonging to which are conveyed one after the other by means of an endless band, the tables being at such a distance apart that a free space is left between them in which the work of brushing and so-called polishing of the chocolate can be carried on, so that each of the beating-tables may be covered with a muffiing or sound-deadening cap, observation of the working process being possible nevertheless.

Figure l of the accompanying drawings is a sectional elevation of the improved machine; Fig. 2, a transverse section; Fig. 3, a plan. Figs. 4: and 5 illustrate the arrangement of a supporting means for the mold-carrier on a larger scale.

As already mentioned, the machine consists of two beating-tables b I), placed at a certain distance apart within the machine frame a and quickly and successively raised and lowered by the action of the eccentrics d (1'. (See Fig. 1.) The beating-tables b b are furnished in the longitudinal direction with ridges g g or other suitable elevations which come between the adjustable bars h h, constituting a support for the mold-carrier,

7 (see Fig. 2,) and so strike against the endless band k, that moves over the bars, and upon the return movement allow the belt to strike the bars h h, whereby the desired shakingis effected. The beating-tables are covered by mu ffiing-caps z z. In the drawings, two endless bands It for conveying the molds are shown by way of example, these being laid over rollers m at the two ends of the machine.

The machiueis driven by the belt-pulleyc, keyed on the shaft f, that carries the eccentric. By means of the screw-gear 11 z" and the spur-wheels n n the motion of the shaft fis transmitted to the shaft 0, which is connected by the belt x with the fixed roller-shaftp.

. Between the beating-tables I) Z) is a bridge r, which is as such a height that the endless band or bands It always lie firmly thereon, (see Fig. 1,) and consequently traverse'the molds noiselessly at this spot from the first to the second beating-table and-allow the brushing ing of each sliding piece is an eccentric u,

and polishing to proceed without hindrance IOO fixed on the shaft 1). (See Figs. 4. and 5.) Each set of bars has four eccentrics u, the shafts of which have cranks to at one end, the cranks being so connected by a rod y that all the eccentrics of one set of bars can be adjusted simultaneously. According as the eccentrics are rotated in the one or the other direction the bars are brought more or less near to the beating-tables, and the blows accordingly strengthened or weakened. vOn each adjusting arrangement is a scale which enables the bars to be accurately adjusted.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a machine for making blocks or tablets of chocolate the combination with the the table moves upward to project through the support that is formed correspondingly along the tops of the tables, a support interposed between the band and tables, bent arms 8 supporting the said support, eccentrics adapted to act on the arms to raise or lower the said support and thereby adjust the distance of the endless band from the strikingtables for strengthening or weakening the blow according to requirements.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PAUL ROBERT FRANKE.

Witnesses HERM. FALK, RUDOLPH FRICKE. 

